Having a Voice – Carer Involvement in Tayside

• What Is Involvement?
• Why do we need Carer Involvement?
• Why we need your input
• What are the benefits of becoming involved?

 

What Is Involvement?

Involvement means working together with Health, Social Work, and Local Council partners to improve the quality of mental health services

 

Why do we need Carer Involvement?

Carer Involvement is vital to enable carers to:

• Influence positive changes within health and community care
• Have an opportunity to explain, from a carer perspective, needs and concerns of your loved one to those who oversee and plan mental health services
• Have the opportunity to liase with statutory partners (i.e. NHS Tayside, Social Work) to improve services for carers and service users

 

Why we need your input:

• As a carer you have a wealth of knowledge and experience that professionals would benefit from hearing
• Professionals have a different remit from a carer, however, both are working towards the same goal which is improving the quality of life of the person you love and care about
• By working together you can help to bring about changes which will bring benefits to both service users and carers

 

What are the benefits of becoming involved?

• Keeps you in touch with services
• Gain knowledge in order to help the person you care for - and other carers
• Being able to politely challenge professionals’ views
• Knowing more can help you to manage personal crisis
• Feeling of personal achievement
• Increased self-confidence
• Giving something back to the community

 

Scottish Government View

The Scottish Government recognises carers as key partners in the delivery of care:

Carers are vital partners in shifting the balance of care, in preventing hospital admission and improving quality of life.  Physical health, emotional well-being and appropriate support are all important for carers to cope with the caring task, with direct benefits for the quality of care and the health of the cared-for person.

 

Carers Raising Awareness in Dundee

As a carer you will be aware that it is sometimes extremely difficult to find your way through the maze of mental health services and of the importance of good communication between the patient the professionals and the carer.

In Dundee our carers are presently involved in the Dundee Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy attending meetings at a strategic planning level to raise issues of concern to carers.

We have regular Information Sharing Evenings which carers are invited to attend to have input into and gain information about various issues being discussed as part of the Strategy.

Our carers also take part in assisting professionals to bring a carer perspective to their training and in this connection we are presently working with the Open University Scotland as well as locally within NHS Dundee.

If you would like more information about the work of our Awareness Raising Team or would like to become involved then please contact: 

Penny Thomas, Carer Support Facilitator for a chat on 01382 305756 (you can leave a message on this number) or mobile 07795331602.

 

 

 

The Project is funded by, but is independent of, NHS and local authority services.